by Misty Evans
She owed him all right.
There was a guard outside her hospital room door, and since Morales was in jail waiting for his arraignment and Agent Blue was dead, she was in no physical danger.
Plus, her boss hadn’t been by to congratulate her on her bust.
Which all added up to one thing: Nelson had spilled the beans and the Keystone Cop outside was ready to take her into custody once the doctor released her.
Still, she hated hospitals. “When can I leave?”
The doctor picked up Sophie’s chart. “How are the ribs?”
Sore. She couldn’t tell where the pain from her side met the pain from her bruised ribcage. Rodrigo had done a number on her, but as the doctor had said, she would live. “Fine.”
“Hmm,” the doctor said, still eyeing the chart. “It says here you’re refusing pain meds. Is there a reason?”
Sophie covered herself and pulled up the thin sheet and blanket. The room was freezing and the linens stank of bleach. “I don’t like drugs.”
“I can prescribe something non-narcotic if you prefer.”
“No thanks. I just want to leave.”
And find out what happened to Lexie.
Dr. O’Hare finally met her gaze. “The hospital is under orders not to release you except into the care of your boss. I’m told he’ll be here this afternoon.”
Yep, just as she’d expected.
But she couldn’t take out her fear and frustration on the doctor or nurses. They’d all been kind to her. “I see. Thank you.”
After the doctor left, Sophie fiddled with a string on the blanket. The pain in her chest increased as she fought the waves of sadness and hopelessness washing over her. She hadn’t felt like this since she’d lost Little Gran.
Her career was over and she was going to need a good attorney. Even if the attorney did his or her job, Sophie was looking at jail time. There was no other way around it.
She didn’t have time to waste in jail. She had to keep looking for Angelique. She had to keep helping lost girls.
The door burst open and two women entered. Both were dark-haired and beautiful. They could have been sisters.
One was dressed in plain jeans, a dark blue top, and sneakers. The other was dressed in a red skirt, white shirt, and red heels.
Red Heels held out a hand. “I’m Celina. Cooper’s girlfriend.”
Sophie racked her tired brain. Cooper Harris. Nelson’s boss. “Hi. I’m Sophie.”
“Sara Rios,” the other woman said and held up two bags. “Clothes and makeup. I cleaned out your apartment at the compound and brought all your stuff home. We thought you might want to freshen up.”
Celina leaned forward with a wicked grin on her face. “Victor Dupé is coming to see you.”
Sophie’s insides went cold.
“From the sounds of it, he was impressed by your work on the Morales case,” Sara said, setting down the clothing bag. “Maybe he’s going to ask you to join his SCVC taskforce. It’s a great group to work with. I’ve certainly enjoyed my stints with them.”
Celina took the makeup bag from Sara and unzipped it, handing Sophie a brush. “No woman wants to be seen wearing a hospital gown with bedhead and no makeup, especially by a potential new boss.”
Sophie wasn’t used to the feminine attention, yet she was overcome with gratitude to these two near strangers. That they would do this for her meant a lot.
Even though there was no way in hell that Dupé was inviting her to join the taskforce.
She took the hairbrush and gingerly shifted into a more upright position. Her injured side cried out, but Sara took her arm and supported her as Celina adjusted the pillows behind her back.
Gingerly, she lifted the brush and dragged it through her snarled hair. “Do you know anything about Lexie?” she asked Sara. At the woman’s blank look, she added, “Morales’s sister?”
“No, sorry.”
Celina dug out a compact mirror and handed it to her. “Listen, Cooper told me you’ve been undercover for nine months and you don’t have a place to stay while you’re on medical leave. If you need a place to crash, even if it’s only a few nights, you’re welcome to stay with us. We have an extra bedroom and occasionally host a taskforce member when necessary.”
Medical leave? Is that what they were calling it these days? The Bureau probably didn’t want it leaked to the press that she’d been smuggling illegals into the country.
The offer to put her up for a few nights was another kind gesture, however. “I don’t think it will be necessary.” Especially since I’ll be in jail. “But thank you.”
“No problem.” Celina winked at her. “I figured you and Nelson probably had something worked out.”
Sophie swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “How is he?”
“Nelson?”
She nodded. Celina shot a confused look at Sara. “He’s walking with a crutch and he has a mild concussion. Didn’t he tell you?”
Sophie shook her head and tried to act like it was no big deal he hadn’t been to see her. “Men. You know how they are.”
Sara saw through her act, but played along, handing Sophie some eyeliner. “Being vulnerable frightens them. They have to keep up their tough act. My husband is the same way.”
“Cooper too,” Celina added, checking out Sophie’s assortment of lipsticks. She held up a brick red and then a soft taupe for Sara to inspect.
Sara pointed at the taupe. “She doesn’t need much makeup. She’s a natural beauty.”
“But the next time you see Nelson”—Celina held up the other tube—“go with the red.” She grinned and wiggled her hips. “Va-va-voom.”
The next time I see Nelson…
Sophie’s heart fluttered like a teenager and she hated it. Nelson had told Dupé on her.
He’d nearly ruined her operation.
Nearly gotten himself killed.
Like she needed the death of one more person she loved on her conscious.
Love.
Yep, the flittering and fluttering inside her chest increased at the thought. She loved him. Here. Now.
For real.
But he’d betrayed her. He’d told the FBI about the lost girls and now she was going to jail.
“…else you need?”
Celina’s voice snapped her back to the present.
“Um, no.” Sophie examined herself in the compact mirror one last time, knowing there wasn’t enough camouflage in the world to hide her bruises, but she didn’t care. She looked better than she had two minutes ago, and this wasn’t the end of the world.
Even if her heart said it was.
Snapping the mirror shut, she returned it to the makeup bag. If she was going down, at least her mug shot wouldn’t be awful. “Thank you for this. I appreciate it.”
Celina was apparently a hugger and did so, giving her a light squeeze so as not to bother her injuries. She held her shoulders for a moment as she looked Sophie in the eye. “I’ve been undercover inside a cartel. I know how hard it is to live in that world, and that it’s harder yet to come out of that world after so long and transition back to work and real life.”
She took a piece of paper from her skirt pocket. “Here’s my number. If you ever want to talk, call me. We don’t have to talk about the operation or anything work related. It’s just good to have a friend and go out once in awhile. Do normal things, you know? Shop for shoes, grab a yogurt. I’m here.”
Another lump formed in Sophie’s throat. She hadn’t had a friend—a true confidant—since Little Gran. Although she didn’t know Celina, she felt the possibility of being friends with her hovering in the air. All she had to do was say yes. Smile. Act normal.
If only I wasn’t going to jail.
Unable to form words and feeling tears sting her eyes, Sophie simply nodded and smiled, taking the paper and holding it tight.
As Celina moved off, Sara squeezed Sophie’s wrist. “I’m sorry about Agent Blue. I’m not CIA anymore, and I never knew
him personally, but what he did to you is wrong. I don’t say this lightly, but the Agency, and possibly the world, is better off without him.”
Sophie agreed. At least Rodrigo had done one thing right.
“Before you guys leave, there is one thing I could use help with,” she said.
Celina brightened and Sara nodded. “Anything.”
Sophie pointed at the bag on the floor. “Help me get dressed? Like you said, I don’t want to meet Director Dupé in a hospital gown, and with the stiches and bandages, I don’t think I can get dressed on my own.”
Celina snatched up the bag. “You got it sister.”
Sara helped leverage Sophie off the bed, and all together, the three of them made it into the tiny bathroom.
As predicted, getting out of her gown and into real clothes was a challenge, but she never felt embarrassed—both women were careful to keep their eyes averted as they helped her—and they were all laughing when they emerged several minutes later to find Director Dupé waiting for them.
“Sir,” Sophie said, nearly jumping out of her skin when she saw Nelson standing behind him.
His gaze was hot and ate her up as his eyes glided all over her body from head to toe.
Both Celina and Sara greeted the two men, then said their goodbyes to Sophie before scurrying out.
Dupé waited patiently for the door to close before giving her a once over. “It’s good to see you up and moving about, Agent Diaz.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please, return to your bed if it’s easier for you.”
He was an imposing man, not from his stature but from the power he wielded.
“I’m comfortable standing, but perhaps Agent Cruz would like to sit down.”
She pointed to the recliner in the corner. Nelson raised a brow. His crutch was missing, even though his ankle was in a cast.
“I’m good,” he said.
Dupé glanced between Nelson and Sophie. “The first stage of Operation Gangs Without Borders has been deemed a success. The Attorney General is satisfied with the evidence you provided, Agent Diaz, on the Morales cartel. Rodrigo Morales and several of his men are in custody. The Mexican Federales and the FBI are working together to prosecute him to the full extent of the law on both sides of the border. Agent Harris and his taskforce”—Dupé pointed at Nelson—“also discovered Morales was supplying illegal bath salts to several dealers in San Diego through a drop point in Oceanside.”
He gave her a nod. “Not only did you shut down the Morales cartel, you wrapped up Project Bliss for the SCVC Taskforce.”
“Did the CIA catch Kronos?”
“He’s in the wind, but they’re happy to have their missile blueprints back.” Dupé eyed the recliner and must have decided he would use it if no one else was going to. He settled himself and rocked for a few seconds. “The CIA is, of course, upset that you blew their chance to snag Kronos. However, because of Agent Blue’s actions and a few words from me, they’re keeping their complaints to themselves. Although they could make your life a living hell in retribution, they won’t. I’ve…made sure of it.”
Sophie knew exactly what the CIA could do to her, and it wasn’t good. That Dupé would protect her lifted a huge weight off her shoulders. “Thank you, sir.”
He folded his hands in his lap. “It has come to my attention that, like Agent Blue, you played by your own rules in Tijuana.”
The weight of an elephant crashed back down on her. She glanced at Nelson, but returned her gaze to meet Dupé’s head-on. “I take full responsibility for my actions.”
“As I would expect. You’ll have to meet with the AG but I’ve made arrangements to lessen the fallout. Once I was aware of the situation, I told the Attorney General that you were acting on my orders to infiltrate the human smuggling ring in an attempt to investigate the resurgence of Chica Bonita. You were unaware of Blue’s affiliation with the CIA and thought he was directly involved so you used your cover to play a role and figure out who all the players were. Stick to that story and you’ll receive a slap on the wrist, nothing more. When you return from medical leave, I’ll have to put you on desk duty for a probationary period. Then we’ll talk.”
“I’m not…fired?” Sophie asked.
“You’re one of my best deep-cover agents, and I’d hate to lose you over an error in judgment. If it happens again… Well, we’ll cross that dangerous bridge when we get to it.”
“Wait.” Nelson, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up. “You’re her boss?”
Dupé gave Sophie a questioning look. “You didn’t tell him?”
Nelson shot her an accusatory look. “No, she didn’t.”
The cat was out of the proverbial bag. She stared at Dupé’s tie and ignored Nelson. “My orders were to report to you and only you, sir, and not to share chain of command with anyone.”
In the silence, she forced herself to meet Nelson’s glare. “The operation was Director Dupé’s idea and he’s the one who sent me in undercover, but because of the sensitive nature of the operation and the extent of Ciro Morales’s former contacts inside the U.S., we decided to keep my assignment a dark op until we were ready to issue warrants. That way there was no chance the details could leak out on either end.”
“The warrants were ready to be issued when I arrived at the compound,” Nelson said between gritted teeth. “You could have told me.”
Dupé once again glanced between them, seemingly assessing their partnership. “I assumed under the circumstances, Agent Diaz, that you saw fit to share the information with Agent Cruz since he belongs to one of my elite taskforces.”
Sophie’s side was killing her. She longed to lie down and cover her head with the blanket even if it did reek of bleach. “I did not, sir.”
Nelson’s lips looked like he’d sucked on a lemon. He leaned once more against the wall and stared at the floor.
He thought she hadn’t trusted him with the fact they shared the same boss, but the truth was, she’d simply been following orders. No one inside the FBI, besides Dupé, had initially known where she was or what she was doing. He’d trusted her to work alone and bring down a monster, no matter what it took or how long. She’d done her job well.
Maybe too well.
Dupé waved an impatient hand. “What’s done is done and it wasn’t crucial to the outcome of the operation. No harm, no foul.”
But there was harm. Sophie could see it in Nelson’s tight stance. The tick in his jaw. “I still believe I owe Agent Cruz an apology for not informing him. I didn’t think the information would help our situation, otherwise I would have.”
Dupé looked satisfied. Nelson still looked pissed. “Agent Blue knew you were an undercover Fed. How did he find out?”
“I told him,” Sophie said. “Part of my orders were to find him and inform him the CIA wanted him to pull out. He refused. I was waiting on orders on how to deal with him.”
Shock registered on Nelson’s face. “As in kill him if necessary?”
She gave a brief nod. “He had become the operation—it had taken him over—but I felt he could be rehabilitated if I got him out.” She’d hoped anyway. She’d initially been so sure she could save Blue. It was easy for people like him to become so entrenched in their false lives, they couldn’t ever go back. She’d feared the same thing might happen to her. “I tried to talk sense to him, tried to get him to leave on his own. When he refused, I warned him of the potential consequences. I thought he would back off, especially when I agreed to get the ledgers for him.”
“But he didn’t.” Nelson shook his head. “If anything, he escalated, putting out the hit on you.”
At least now, the whole ugly truth was out. Sophie turned to Dupé. “When can I get out of here, sir? I’m not a fan of hospitals.”
She couldn’t be sure but it looked as if a faint smile passed over her boss’s lips. He rose from the chair and straightened his suit jacket. “I’ll inform the doctor you’re ready to leave, an
d if you’re up for it, we’ll reconvene in my office first thing tomorrow morning for a full debriefing with the AG.”
A full debriefing. Hours of sitting in a chair giving her testimony while Nelson glared at her and her body ached all over.
“I’ll be there.” While she wasn’t sure she still wanted it, her job was saved. She had time to figure out what she was going to do. Time to figure out the information in the ledgers that might lead her to Angelique. “The ledgers, sir. Were they recovered?”
“All of them, thanks to Agent Cruz. He confiscated them before the Agency got wind of what happened. Once the FBI is finished gleaning info, we’ll of course share with the CIA and Homeland, but it could be awhile. Those ledgers are a goldmine.”
“Thank you, Agent Cruz,” Sophie said. “For grabbing the ledgers, and for…well, everything.”
Nelson nodded without looking at her and spoke to Dupé. “I’ll walk you out, sir.”
Dupé headed for the door, Nelson hobbling along behind him.
Watching him leave without so much as a backwards glance at her, her heart hurt as much as her side. She should be happy but she wasn’t.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she mentally kicked herself. She’d been so caught up worrying about Nelson and waiting for the ax to fall from Dupé, she’d totally forgotten to ask about Lexie.
She was still sitting on the bed when the nurse came in twenty minutes later with her discharge papers and a couple of prescriptions. In a pain-induced fog, Sophie nodded and accepted the paperwork, grabbed her bag and let the nurse wheel her to the exit downstairs.
“Is anyone waiting for you?” the woman asked.
Night had fallen, the stars shining brightly. The hurricane had been downgraded and was heading out to sea. Warm air touched Sophie’s face and she forced herself up from the wheelchair. “Nope, but that’s okay.”
The nurse pulled out a cell phone. “I can call a cab for you.”